Torsion closer device

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a rectangular gate normally latched at one end and including an initially stressed torsion bar spring horizontally disposed at the other end. When thrust from a vehicle is applied to the gate, the gate yields along the bottom while rotating along an upper horizontal axis, thereby storing energy in the bar spring and releasing the latch. Propelled by the spring stored energy, the released gate then springs about a vertical axis to an open position. The gate includes an improved vertical gate supporting post mechanism, an improved initially stressed torsion bar spring, a vehicle bumper contact device to eliminate scuffing of the vehicle bumper and an improved hooking mechanism to protect a unitary frame connection between the gate ends from additional wire tension.

[in 3,748,687 [45 July 31,1973

[ TORSION CLOSER DEVICE [76] Inventor: Felix B. Romberg, P. O. Box 218,

Holland, Tex.

221 Filed: Feb. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. N6; 229,599

Related [1.8. Application Data [62] Division of Scr. No. 106,807, Jan.15, 1971.

. Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Peter A.Aschenbrenner Attorney-Richards, Harris & Hubbard [57] ABSTRACT Thespecification discloses a rectangular gate normally latched at one endand including an initially stressed torsion bar spring horizontallydisposed at the other end. When thrust from a vehicle is applied to thegate,

521 vs. Cl 16/75, 267/57, 267/154 the g yields ng the bottom Whilerotating along an [5 l Int. Cl E05f 1/08 "PP" horilomal axis, therebyStoring energy in the bar [58] Field of Search 16/25, 180; 267/154, p gand releasing the latch- P p by he pring 267/57 stored energy, thereleased gate then springs about a vertical axis to an open position.The gate includes an [56] R f r Cit d improved vertical gate supportingpost mechanism, an UNITED STATES PATENTS improved initiallystressedtorsion bar spring, a vehicle 3 272 492 9/1966 Jones 267/154bumper contact device to eliminate scuffing of the ve- 3l7246l 3/1965 i:":3 X hicle bumper and an improved hooking mechanism to 3:490:175 1 1970Romberg 16/75 x a frame between the gate ends from additional wiretension. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ,4 5 12/1953 Great Britain 67 14 1 Chm, 24 a s 1,021,754 12/1957 Germany 16/75 4s 41 3s 20 IE I I 7 uPAINTED- SHEET 1 [1F 5 mi I a I I l yu I I mm T m (.6 m

l I E F6 B (6 OM T PAIENIEU 3l 3. 748.687

sum 3 BF 5 1 TORSION CLOSER DEVICE RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis a division of application Ser. No. 106,807, filed Jan. 15, I971,which was an improvement over application Ser. No. 3318, filed .Ian. I6,1970, by the present applicant and entitled Vehicle Opened Gate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gate which maybe automatically opened and closed by vehicle thrust, and moreparticularly to an automatic gate which by the application of vehiclethrust yields at the bottom to store spring energy and unlatch,whereupon the gate is flung to an open position by the spring storedenergy.

THE PRIOR ART Automatic bumper actuated gates were generally devisedwhen front bumpers on automobiles were more rugged, more resilient andextended further in front of the auto body shell than the bumpers ontodays automobiles. Additionally, automatic gates heretofore developedwere usually not designed to accommodate modern width farm equipment.

Many hinged gates have been heretofore constructed of boards orstructurally formed sheet metal strips riveted together. Susceptabilityto wind pressure has often rendered such gates unsuitable for freeswinging bumper-actuated gates. Such previous gates have also had poortorsional properties, and have often tended to be rather heavy when usedas automatic bumper gates due to the requirement of additional parts andstrengthening structure. After a period of service, the weight andleverage of such previously developed gates have often tended to upsetthe desired axis of rotation.

The present gate operates generally along the lines of the gatedisclosed in applicants copending patent application Ser. No. 3318,filed .Ian. 16, 1970, and entitled Vehicle Opened Gate." The presentgate'invention, however, is directed to an improved gate supportingstructure, an improved initially stressed torsion spring mechanism,novel vehicle contact portions and supplementary gate hook structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present vehicle operated gate includes anupright post section mounting said gate for rotation from its closedposition to its open positions. The post section has a generallyhorizontal base plate seated on a pair of laterally spaced pivot blockswhich pivotally support said post section about a horizontal axis. Eachof the pivot blocks includes a threaded member extending through thebase plate and a nut provided for connection to the threaded memberabove the base plate. This structure allows adjustmentto accommodateshim buildup between the pivot blocks and the base plate to adjust theposture of the post section in the plane of the threaded members.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, a gate mounted at oneend for rotation about a vertical axis in either direction from a closedposition to an open position is also mounted for pivotal movement at thebottom in either direction about an upper longitudinal axis. A pluralityvertical frame member is mounted in the central plane of the gate, withupright shafts mounted on each side of the frame member and spaced fromand tilted toward the central plane of the gate. Vehicle contact rollersare rotatable and axially slidable on the shafts to reduce bumperscuffing. An improved torsion spring device stores energy when theclosed gate is pivoted about the longitudinal axis to an unlatchingtilted posture by vehicle thrust against either of the rollers. Thespring device rebounds the unlatched gate from the vehicle to an openposition.

Still another aspect of the present invention is an improved hookingcombination engageable at the lower gate corners to prevent wirestensioned between gate ends from overstraining a gate frame in which thegate ends are structurally connected only at the top. The hookingstructure includes at each end of the gate a horizontal gate-borne armwith upward and downward extending terminal projections and a stationarysupport. The stationary support bears top and bottom hooking bars whichare disposed to lap over the gateborne projections when the gate is inits normal closed position. The top hooking bar extends over and behindthe upward projection and the bottom hooking bar extends under andbehind the downward projection when the gate is in the normal closedposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of thepresent invention and for further objects 'and advantages thereof,reference may now be had to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of the present automatic gate;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the post pivot joint structure of thegate;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the section line 3-3 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the high set post of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the torsion spring mechanism ofthe invention;

FIGS. 6a-c are cross sections taken generally along section line 6-6 ofFIG. 5, illustrating the torsion spring mechanism of the gate indifferent operational positions;

FIGS. 7a-c are cross sections taken generally along section line 77 ofFIG. 5, showing operational positions correlated with the operationalpositions shown in FIGS. 6ac;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lower part of the gate actuating structureof the present gate;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the strap arms holding the upper ends of thecontact roller carrying shafts shown in FIG. 8;

.FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the sectionline 10-10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a cross section of the bumper roller taken generally alongthe section line llll in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a partially broken away view of the gate hooking mechanism atthe latch end of the gate;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the section linel3l3 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the hooking mechanism at the axle end of thepresent gate;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken generally along the section line l5l5in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a front view of another embodiment of the hooking mechanismfor use at the latched end of the present gate;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the camming end of the hooking mechanism shownin FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a cross section taken generally along section line l818 inFIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the latch keeper mechanism for the invention;and

FIG. 20 is a top view of the latch keeper shown in FIG. 19, andassociated parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, thepresent gate comprises a fence holding frame with vertical posts 1 and 2set in concrete poured into corresponding post holes and into a channelconnecting the two post holes. The concrete also anchors the lower endof a brace 3. Posts 1 and 2 are connected at their upper ends by ahorizontal strut 4. A plate is sandwiched diagonally betweeen adjacentends of post 2 and strut 4, as by welding to each of these members.Plate 5 extends downward to the upper end of brace 3 to which it iswelded, and plate 5 extends beyond the post 2 and strut 4 where theplate 5 is perforated to receive a threaded lower end of a brace 6.Brace 6 may be adjusted by manipulating nuts 7 to affect the posture ofa high set post 8 in the plane of the closed gate.

High set post 8 is constructed from I structural steel and is integralwith a base plate 9 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Base plate 9 is perforatedtowards each end to receive threaded studs 10 which are integral withand project from pivot blocks 11 on which the base plate 9 is seated.One of the pivot blocks 11 rests against the outside of each flange ofpost 1. As best shown in FIG. 3, post 1 is constructed of I structuralsteel of larger cross section than the high set post 8, so that nuts 12on the threaded ends of studs 10 have room for being turned. A shaft 13passes horizontally through suitable openings in the flanges of post 1and in the pivot blocks 11, the web of post 1 being cut away to makeroom for "i post 8 in the plane perpendicular to the closed position ofthe gate, the gate is opened in the direction towards which the upperend of the high set post is to be shifted. The nut 12 on the stud 10 onthe now tensioned side of the high set post 8 is then unwoundsufficiently to insert a shim of proper thickness between the uppersurface of the pivot block 11 and the base plate 9. Then, with the shimin place. the nut 12 is tightened again.

The upper end of brace 6 is terminated by a plate 14 (FIGS. 2 and 4)which is secured to the high set post 8 by bolts 15 which are welded tothe inner sides of the flanges of post 8. The plate 14 is furthersecured against downward displacement by projections 16 on the flangesof the post and against upward displacement by a plate 17 to the top ofthe post.

The axle 18 of the gate is mounted between the plate 17 and a U bracket19 fixedly secured to the lower end of the high set post 8. The lowerend of axle 18 is a rectangular loop 20 into which the exposed end of aninner tubular member 21 of the gate projects as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.A cross pin 22 extends through openings in the sides of the loop and thetubular member to hold the tubular member from displacement and axialrotation. A pivot bolt 23 extends through a central opening in thebottom of rectangular loop 20 and through perforations in the top andbottom elements of the U bracket.

The upper end of axle 18 is tubular and has spaced cross walls 24 and 25(FIG. 2). A pivot bolt 26 is journaled in an opening in the top plate 14and press fitted through central openings in the cross wallS of thetubular axle 18 below. The head of this bolt above plate 14 has aperforated extension 27 for receiving the upper end of the guy 28, theeffective length of which can be adjusted by a nut 29. The guy, axle andinner tube 21 move in unison when the gate is opened and closed. Theaxis of rotation is through pivot bolts 26 and 23 and is appropriatelytilted so the gate will swing from its open position to its closedposition by gravity.

An initially stressed torsion spring mechanism is disposed within anouter tubular member 30 which forms the upper portion of the gate. Thetorsion spring mechanism is best shown in FIGS. 5, 6a-c and 7a-c. Theinner tube 21 extends into the outer tubular member 30. A torsion barspring 31 housed in inner tube 21 comprises a cylindrical shaft 32 whichis integral with flaired ends 33 produced by upsetting. These flairedends are each welded to the radial ring portion 34 of a yet largerdiameter member 35 having acylindrical portion 36. The two cylindricalportions constitute the torsion springs terminals and have a working fitwith the interior of the inner tube 21.

Square cross pins 37 and 38 function at opposite ends of the spring tocommunicate torque between the cylindrical spring terminals and theinner and outer tubular members. Openings are provided in the walls ofthe springs cylinders 36 and the walls of the inner and outer tubularmembers 21 and 30 for containing the cross pins 37 and 38 which extendthrough the walls perpendicular to the springs axis. Cover rings 39surround the outer tubular member beyond the ends of the cross pins andmay be held in position in any conventional manner. The openings in thesprings terminal cylinders 36 are of the same size as the cross pins 37and 38, but the openings through the inner and outer tubular members 21and 30 are circumferentially elongated as illustrated in FIGS. 6a and7a.

In the cylindrical spring terminals 36, the openings for the cross pinsare so positioned in the unstressed spring 31 that the center line ofthe openings for cross pin 37 at one end of the spring 31 are in thesame plane as the center line of the openings for cross pin 38 at theother end of the spring 31. By comparing the angular position of crosspin 37 in FIG. 6a with the angular position of cross pin 38 in FIG. 7a,it will be noted that the spring 31 is assembled into the gate partiallywound. This partial winding is accomplished by having the openings intubular members 21 and 30 for cross pin 38 out of angular alignment withcorresponding openings for cross pin 37 at the other end of the spring31. This gives the spring 31 an initial torsional stress which forcesthe cross pin 37 clockwise against the shoulders 40 of the wall of theinner tube 21 and the shoulders 41 of the wall of the outer tubularmember 30, and forces the cross pin 38 at the opposite end of the springcounterclockwise against shoulders 42 of the inner tube and shoulders 43of the outer tubular member. This initial stress tends to keep the gatein its normal vertical position as indicated by the vertical dispositionof arm 44 in FIG. 6a. In assembling the spring into the gate, the crosspin 37 is inserted after cross pin 38 is in place. The springs terminalcylinder 36 at this end is provided with notches 45 (FIG. 5) which canbe engaged by a special wrench to twist the spring so openings arealigned for the insertion of cross pin 37.

The operation of the spring mechanism of this gate is similar to that ofthe gate disclosed in the previously identified copending patentapplication Ser. No. 3318. When the bottom of the gate is moved by theaction of a vehicle bumper, the longitudinal member 30 turns in placewhile the inner tube 21 is held from turning by the cross pin 22 at thegate axle 18. Clockwise rotation of the outer tubular member 30, asindicated by the slant of pendant arm 44 in FIG. 6b, leaves theshoulders 40 of the stationary inner tube 21 holding the cross pin 37against clockwise movement, while the cross pin 38 at the other end ofthe spring is advanced clockwise by shoulders 43 of the outer tubularmember, as shown in FIG. 7b, thereby storing energy by increasing theangular disparity of the two ends of the spring 31 from that of theinitial twist. Similarly, when the outer tubular member 30 is rotatedcounterclockwise from its normal position, as indicated by. the angularposition of pendant arm 44 in FIG. 6c, the cross pin 37 is movedcounterclockwise by the advance of shouders 41 while the cross pin 38 isheld stationary by the shoulders 42 of the inner tube 21, as shown by acomparison of FIGS. 7a and 7c. This likewise stores energy by increasingthe angular disparity between the spring ends.

For the greater part of the length of the gate, the outer tubular member30 is thin walled, but thicker walled sections 46 and 47 are placedwhere pendant arms 44 and 48 are attached and openings are cut for crosspins 37 and 38. These two thicker walled sections are connected by athinner walled section 49 as shown in FIG. 5.

Vehicle bumper contact parts are carried by the lower portion of pendanttubular arm 48 as shown in FIGS. 1, 8, 9, and 11, and include twoupright bumper contact rollers 50 and a single horizontal tractor wheelcontact roller 51. The bumper'contact rollers are rotatable andvertically slidable on shafts 52 and are each comprised ofan inner steeltube 53 (FIG. 11), an outer elastomeric cover 54 and a bushing 55 insideeach end of the steel tube. The upper ends of the two shafts 52 arerigidly secured to converging ends of vertically wide straps 56 whichare secured to opposite sides of the wall of pendant arm 48 to form asupporting triangle for the upper end of each shaft. As the wall of thetubular pendant member is thin, vertically spaced contact points betweenthe straps and the wall are provided by vertically extending strap lugs57.

The lower ends of shafts 52 are rigidly secured to opposite ends of a.thin plate 58 which is welded to the lower end of pendant arm 48. .lustabove thisplate is horizontal hollow shaft 59 connecting and rigidlysecured to pendant arms 44 and 48 and extending beyond arm 48 to formthe axle for roller 51. Braces 60 connect opposite sides of shaft 59 ata point near the roller with the plate 58.

The rollers 50 are set some distance to the sides of the central planeof the gate, which is occupied by the pendant member 48. When a roller50 is pushed by an automobile bumper, the distance of the bumperscontact point from the axis of tubular member shortens as the roller isadvanced to a position directly under member 30. During this shorteningof distance, the roller 50 being pushed slides upward on the supportingshaft 52, occupying space otherwise left between the top of the roller50 and the bottom of straps 56 and thereby avoiding scuffing of thebumper. Scuffing is also avoided by rotary movement of the roller duringlateral movement between the bumper and the roller. Gate hookingmechanism for the present gate is shown in FIGS. 1, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Athin walled section of the longitudinal frame member 30 of the gate issecured to the thick walled section 47 (FIG. 1) and extends to the latchcarrying guy supported diagonal plate 61 sandwiched between this thinwalled section and an equally thin walled pendant arm 62. Pendant arms62 and 44 are at opposite ends of the gate and carry barb wires 63strung between them for the livestock barrier of the gate. Wires arestrung on alternate sides of pendant arm 48 and one wire is attached toa cross bolt 64 at the end of the hollow shaft 59 as shown in FIG. 10.To the bottom of pendant arm 62 a thin plate 65 is welded to extendhorizontally toward the post 66 when the gate is in its .normal closedposition. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, this plate carries anintegralterminal block 67 which extends perpendicularly upward and downwardequal distances from plate 65. A bracket 68 held to the post 66 by abolt 69 has two hook bars 70 and 71 extending horizontally, one of thebars extending over and the other under the normal position of block 67.Outward from this block these bars turn 90 degrees toward the plate 65to form hooks for retaining block 67 while the gate is in its normalclosed position. At the other end of the gate, a plate 72 and block 73shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 correspond to plate 65 and block 67 justdescribed. However, the upper horizontal hook bar 78 and lowerhorizontal hook bar 79 of the bracket 74 are connected at 80, whereashook bars 70 and 71 are connected by a post fitting segment 81. Bracket74 is secured by bolts 75 to vertically spaced lugs 76 and 77 of post 1.i

As livestock respect barb wires, hard pressure against the wires of thisgate by livestock should be a rare occurrence. It would be doublyunusual for livestock to apply hard pressure to the wires as low down asan au tomobile bumper. Evenat this low level it would require, forinstance, 55 pounds to overcome the initial pressure of the torsion barspring and thus cause the bottom of the gate to yield. However, pressureagainst the bottom wires results in amplified wire tension which couldoverstrain frame members of the gate, were it not for the drawing ofblocks 67 and 73 against the hook bars anchored to the posts at theopposite ends of the gate. Also, an upward force exerted against thegate would lift the gate no further than make contact between the plate65 and the upper hook bar 70. The normal height of the guy supported endof the gate, in the gates closed position, is maintainable on account ofthe light weight of that end of the gate, the direct line of tensionthrough the guy and the adjustable brace 6, and the direct line ofpressure through the longitudinal frame member 30 and strut 4.

For long gates where the height of the latched end of the gate is moredifficult to control, a bracket 82, shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18, ispreferably substituted for bracket 68 shown in FIG. 12. Bracket 82differs from bracket 68 by having vertical cam sections 83 and 84 at theends of the top and bottom hook bars, respectively, as shown in FIG. 17.These cam sections operate to scoop in the plate 65 (shown in FIG. 12)from variations in height when the gate swings to its normal closedposition. Bracket 82 also differs from bracket 68 by having the verticalsegment 85 substituted for vertical segment 81 of bracket 68, the latterbeing tightly fitted to the side of the post 66, whereas segment 85 isnormally spaced from the post to permit bracket 82 some vertical pivotalmovement about the bolt 69 when the plate 65 strikes a cam section 83 or84 of the bracket.

When bracket 82 is not forced to an upwardly or downwardly slantedposition to accommodate the plate 65, it is maintained in its normalhorizontal position by a pressure plate 86 and compression spring 87mounted on a bolt 88 secured to the post behind bracket 82 in a lineperpendicular to the bolt 69 and the post. The pressure plate 86 isperforated in the center to fit loosely on the bolt, and its sides arerecessed at 89 intermediate of their top and bottom so that top andbottom shoulders 90 of the pressure plate make contact with adjacent topand bottom portions of bracket 82. When bracket 82 is pivoted downwardlyor upwardly from its normal horizontal position, the bottom or top ofthe pressure plate is forced away from the post and the center of thepressure plate is thereby moved outward against the pressure of thespring, The pressure of the spring is adjustable by the nut 91.

The latch plate 92 shown in FIGS. 1, l9 and is pivotally secured to thehinge pin 93 at the outer sides of two hinge pin holding sections 94formed at the upper end of diagonal plate 61 with a space between themwhere the lower end of guy 28 is looped about the hinge pin.

The latch keeper 95 is carried by two perpendicular integral bolts 96mounted in suitable openings in spaced angle irons 97 and 98 welded tothe top of post 66 parallel to the latch keeper. When the gate is in itsnormal closed position, the latch plate is held flat against the bottomof the recess 99 of the latch keeper by a strap spring 100 (FIG. 1).

When vehicle thrust is applied to one of the contact rollers 50 or 51 ofthe latched gate in an amount sufficient to overcome the initial stressof the torsion bar spring, the gate yields at the bottom, becomingtilted, the torsion bar spring is additionally wound and the leadingedge of the latch plate is raised until it emerges above the holdingside of the latch keeper recess, as shown by the dotted position in FIG.19. The latch plate now swiftly rides out of the recess in response tothe force of the torsion bar spring, and spring stored energy isconverted into kenetic energy as the top of the gate is flung forward torestore the gate from its tilted posture to its vertical posture.

Since 'the mass of the gate is concentrated along the top, the forwardmomentum of the top of the gate swings the entire gate forward on itsvertical axis, away from the vehicle and to an open position. The-gatethereafter returns to its latched closed position by gravitational forcedue to the inclination of its vertical axis. The closing movement of thegate may be delayed by a device such as is described in the co-pendingpatent application Ser. No. 3318.

Whereas the present invention has been described with respect tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changesand modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it isintended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle opened gate, an initially stiff torsion spring mechanismcomprising, in combination:

a torsion bar spring with a cylindrical shaft section and enlargedopposite twisting ends, each twisting end comprising an upset portion ofthe spring shaft, a cylindrical terminal of larger diameter and a radialring joining said cylindrical terminal with said upset portion,

pivotally connected inner and outer cylinders concentric about both saidcylindrical spring terminals,

a cross pin extending perpendicularly through openings in opposite sidesof the wall of each cylindrical spring terminal and also throughopenings in both sides of the walls of said inner and outer cylinders,and

the openings in the inner and outer cylinders being circumferentiallyelongated in a clockwise direction from one of said cross pins andcircumferentially elongated in the counterclockwise direction from theother of said cross pins when the torsion spring mechanism is free fromexternal force. k

1. In a vehicle opened gate, an initially stiff torsion spring mechanismcomprising, in combination: a torsion bar spring with a cylindricalshaft section and enlarged opposite twisting ends, each twisting endcomprising an upset portion of the spring shaft, a cylindrical terminalof larger diameter and a radial ring joining said cylindrical terminalwith said upset portion, pivotally connected inner and outer cylindersconcentric about both said cylindrical spring terminals, a cross pinextending perpendicularly through openings in opposite sides of the wallof each cylindrical spring terminal and also through openings in bothsides of the walls of said inner and outer cylinders, and the openingsin the inner and outer cylinders being circumferentially elongated in aclockwise direction from one of said cross pins and circumferentiallyelongated in the counterclockwise direction from the other of said crosspins when the torsion spring mechanism is free from external force.